Silo cover



May19,19zs. r 1,538,579 J. s. NEHER SILO COVER 5 Filed Ooi. 30, 1923 2 Shoots-Sheet 1 ir@ i'I J. S. NEHER,

my 111,y 1925.

sILo Govan Filed Oct. 50, 4192:5

2 Shoots-Sheet 2 Patented May 19, 1925.

JOHN s. NEHER, or` NORTH MANCHESTER, INDIANA..v

`'sito oovna.

Application filed October 30, 1923. Serial No. 671,792.

To all wim/la t 7124151/ concer/n; i

Be it known that JOHN Nrrifinii,` a

citizen of the United States, residing at" North Mancliester,in the county of Wabash and State of Indianzuhas inventedcertain `new and useful Improvements` in `Silo Covers, of which the yfollowing vis a specification. y

This invention relates to an improved silo cover or top and more particularly to a device of that nature than can be easily and conveniently manipulated to open or close the upper end of the silo.

The 4principal object of the invention is to provide a silo top oil cover that can be quickly and easily moved from a closed to an opened position and vice versa, and which when in an open position will loe held or suspended from the top edge of thesilo.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide anti-friction means to facilitate moving the cover and improved means toj guide the cover when it is moved and to maintainjit in a suspended position when open. i

A further object of the invention isto provide improved means to slightly elevate the cover as it is slid over the top of the silo, so as to prevent certain parts lcoming in Contact with the upper edge,v of the silo during the opening or closing operations.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved and simplified cover consisting` of but a few simple parts that can be assembled or disassembled quickly and easily.

In the drawings Fig. 1, is a vertical sectional lview of my invention7 in its preferred embodiment and as used in connection with the silo. p

Fig. 2, is a fragmentary view O-f a portion of the upper end of a silo wall showing my cover as it is held in a suspended position,v

when open.` 1

Fig. 3, is a cross sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1. f

Fig. Ll, is a view in bottom plan.- Y

Fig. 5, is a perspective view of a portion of the outer edge of the body of the cover.

Fig. 6, is a view in perspectiveof the outer rim of the cover which, when in use engagesand is carried by the edge of the cover as shown in Fig. 5.

The body portion 10 of the cover is prac.-r vtically constructed of metal and when tinished assumes substantially conical form as illustrated in Fig. 1.r is preferably. formed by joining the edges of a. series of substantially V-shaped sections, the edges being ln'oiiglit into interlocking relation to form radially positioned flanges 11. The upper enduof the coverl is provided with an opening. 12. The lower edge of the oovei isengaged by a series of alternately bent ears 13 that are carried at` the upper edge of-a circular rim 14 thereby forming a.

complete durable covering for a silo.

Over the opening 12.1 arrange av conical closure member 15 that has cut outportions 1G spaced about its lower edge sothat it can tit over the flanges 11. The closure member is .provided with a small opening at its upperl endfor the purpose hereinafter described.

lVithin the coverl arrange suitable truss` members A and B. The inner truss comprises upper and lower ymembers 17aud 18 `that are'spaced apart intermediate their ends by spacing blocks 19 and whichhave their outer ends brought in closer relationship through the medium of bolts 2O wherebythe upper member 17 assumes a substantially b owed position and thelowe'r member is slightly bowed as will be observed upon reference to Fig. 1. The trussB is formed in substantially the same way as trussA,the intermediate portions of its upperand lower memberspassing over and runderthe members of truss Av in alinement with thelspacer blocks 19. `Upon reference to Fig. 1, it will be observed that the lower member 18 of the trussesis materially shorter than the upper member and that the distance between the ends of the upper members when the latter are in a bowed position is substantially the same as the inner diameter ofthe rim 1&1. One end ofthe lower member of truss B is out slanting as 21 to cooperate (seeFig. 3) and extends upwardly through.

the openingy 12` of the cover and youtwardly through the Opening at the top of the closure memberl. At itslower end the rod is Vprovided with a head 23, so as to limit upward movement `with respect to the trusses v and the upperend that projectsbeyond they 'isslightly bowed the entire cover .will be upper. end ofthe closure memb ergliisprof.l raisedslightly as -it slides-oil the silo; Durvidedwith a detachable cross pin 24C tomlimitmingtliis, movement the guide rods 82 and 33 the downward movement of the rodmwithmre-pass through theveye brackets 8l on the silo spect to the closure member. Consequently until the point of bending is reached. when the trusses and the rod 22 are pQsie...The-lentire cover can then be tilted so as to tioned in placeas shown in Fig. l the trusses assume a vertical position as shown in F ig. Will be. firmly held Within thecoiierpandfthe a2 and vWill .remainysiispended in such posiclosure member l5 will be vsecurely seated.V tion until it is again tilted into a horizontal on the coverw v y i position and slid entirely across thesilo.

Thguppmrgnd ofthe Silo `as jndieatedby From 4the above it Will `be observed that the vnumeral-25v is equipped Withfa bracket lthe Opening and-closing operation#can be-J 26 as v:it Q'thc saidbracket lyiiizg` inside the quicklyand easily ajected andthat because silo' 'andA being equipped with spaced ears of the anti-friction roller29and the. slightly 28--ivhich carry an anti-friction.memberl 29- bowed lOWer member. of truss B thefleast throughthe mediunrof pintle 30, it Will pOSSlbl@ SlStfiIlC-G S l@H3G/Ted. lie-observed that-the upper-edgeclof theanti-.. That is claimed is:

friction rollerU 29: lies slightly above.. the.

only slightly from the inner wall4 thereo. movement and means .to automatically ele- The anti-frictionroller 29is ofsubstantially Vatethewsame slightlyy lduring .such .movethe same WidthY asthevloiver member 18: of ment Substantially'described. truss Bivhich member'is adapted tooperate QfllliCOllblllatOn Witlr a silo, a top. or thereon dur-ingthe `opening; and-closing; COVSllfpOrtlon Capable of horizontal sliding operations of the cover. noted that the upper -portions of the` ears benlllglltly elevated, means to automatic- 28 Will torni guides for the member -v18ct ally elevate Elle OP OI COVGI` aS .the Sliding truss B asit moves on the frictionroller.VV D OYilllIl@ Cqltllue LIlCl v@01211111011 means t0 The upper edgeof the silo is further -pro- 11.111.113 .the llll1g IDOVBIHGH D Clflltatethe vided ivithveye brackets Blyspaced at each4 itlllllgao the top rOl .COX/'eri 11160 a vertical side of the' bracket 26vbut Aon. the outside POSltlOllmCl-EO Hlltilllltl@ .Smie .SdSPGnClGCl Wall of the siloffor tliepurpose thatvvilll 111 ,SUClfLPflSmQR- presently appear. The eyefportions-of the 3-SIB.,COlllOlIlltlOIl'fWlll L S110, ib vCOVGI brackets 3l assume a Position Slighdy, above `capable of horizontal sliding movement, ,andY

the upper edge ofthe silo'and liefatua sub1; me.fl 1l$ i0 LUOHIQJQZLHY -elevate thev .cover Smntiauy degree anglwth espece t0. during.sucby mov-ement and includinpya that edge;y

Guide rodsBQ and 33 liave-their`i1iner ends secured to theiipper member 1710i salfl-'ol'lef-w u truss A as at 84, pass downwardly-through i 4- iIHiiCOmblDylOll Wltll; a Silo, a cOVel openings in the lower memberlS of thesamev Capable `0f rhOlflZOlal v `SllCllOLg 'HIOVGIDGHQ l. :In.coinbiiiation..ivith a silo, a top or upper, thesik) andighuvit spaced., COVGL, pOlillOl vCliplble. Of .llOllZOllLl Slldlllg.

It` Win 1 also be. L movement in one direction afterone side has rolleriixedtothe `silo and a bowed memberl carrieflfby` the cover and riding upon` the; l

loo

trussand are then lbent aty right angles as :ml'dfmG-ui-s-t0' mllmfl@any della@ the y at 35 toeXt/end outivardlynthrough theeye COV-eli durlngisllh' Slldmi movement sind portions of bracketsl, elongated openings mells lHCl/lldlllgha bowed ,member )011 ille 36, n the Tim 14 nd @muy terminate in' underside of the cover, brackets fixedtothe heads 37; on the outside of they` rim. y TheVS11O and Serving 3S gules for ther-bowed rods may also be.curved-slightly; between'rmellbl {en d 2b lOl-lelfblledby theibl'mkels thepoint of bending S5-,and 'theirf outer alClPlOylCllDgaa bea'lng OVthebOWd-Imem ends asshoivn in Fig. bei" i When in place the. Cover assumeswsub. 5411i iconibinationivith ;a silo.a Vbowed i staiitially the position Shown' in Figll, With'l truss .bridging lh@ 1 UPP-91' @Ulnof 'tl-10 Ello;

thc bevellefl edge 2l of the lower member ,memfdhlnmllyiConnect-lng. thCitVUSSVth 130g truss B .lying snugly against tim utp Vthe silo to permit` the truss to be slid horifrjmton 1.011611. 29 '\Vhen it is desired@ zontall5f',;said. hinge -connection including' Open the @over the SdYOpPOSL-thef mi-Jp means foiyholding the truss tilted in a fixed:

friction roller 29de raised slightly and the Posllon at one sld@ of the Silo and e COVQI cover yis then pushed toward the otherl side @armed .the Sad UNSS of the silo. This brings yloiv-er member 18ct v truss B Aonto the frictionroller QQ-land kin Salglltm'ew View oft-herziet thatthesaid truss member JOHN S. NEI-IER;

In;testimonyHivhereor I hereby affix myl 

